Great interview Justin, I hope some of the things we discussed over email came to mind when you saw the kamado in person. Also, to anyone in the comments section that has any questions for about this thing, ask away. I have owned one since they came out. In short, if they made a larger one, I'd buy a 2nd one.
Since Lance has owned one for a while and is willing to answer questions that I can't answer, I thought I'd take him up on the offer and pin his comment. (Thank you, Lance.) Fire away, folks.
@@grkspartan009 The Kamado gets to temp, let's say 250F in about 10-15 mins and can hold that temp (with a full load of charcoal) for ~25+ hours (without refill). If you are cooking at high temps, say like for pizzas, obviously, it will burn more quickly since the difference in surface temperature and the surrounding temperature is greater. Once you figure out the intake/exhaust settings, you can dial in the internal temp really well. I have had zero problems except for really windy days. Temp recovery (after lifting the lid to baste or check your food) is pretty quick. Cooldown doesn't take that long at all once the fire is out. I am sure the Blaze aluminum kamado burns more fuel than a ceramic kamado, but I have never tested the difference. Personally, lump charcoal isn't that expensive so it's not a concern to me.
@@lennyg7771 No problem, I am an engineering student (in college in my 30s) so I never sleep. You can sear with the charcoal basket. You mean the one that comes with the rotisserie right? I have used it for (2) zone cooking also.
No doubt, he knows his stuff and has done a lot of R&D to create a seemingly great product. Anyone getting into the kamado production game has to bring something great to the table because there are already such good models already available.
This guy knows his product and is well prepared for questions as any salesperson worth his salt would be. Aside from the product being amazing with a lifetime warranty (if that didn't make you want to own it just knowing that) his demonstration of knowledge pretty much would seal the deal for serious buyers. His presentation was on point.
As a gentle reminder to all persons interested in buying high end cooking equipment it's always easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission
Spoken like a person with experience. Great advice. Although, I might add something along the lines of "I just wanted to make great memories with friends and family and this will help, honey".
I've had my Blaze Komado for two years now, and I love it! Excellent quality, heavy duty, nothing breaks, perfect heat control properties; LOVE IT! Thanks for making a great product, that should last my lifetime!
Buy yourself one man and do some Cajun-themed burger on it so I can drunkenly try to copy it and then try to convince my wife that I came up with it myself. haha
I live in Alaska, have had this grill for about 2 months. Super efficient, holds heat and temp for hours, based on how much you load it with. I've only used splits, lump and charcoal, (no fluids). It does not seem to get any hotter on the outside than a ceramic model, you can touch it at 500 and if you move your hand, you won't get burned. snow does not melt off of the stand or the deck around it. Any larger and it wouldn't really be portable, size is limited but it fits a packer Brisket or large Turkey
I have to say that was one of the best interview I've seen on the tube, about bbq grills. Thank for the video and your time. cast aluminum is the way to go.
First off, that guy is a top class salesmen. Well done! Secondly, that Blaze Kamado is gorgeous. The PK Grills last FOREVER. This Blaze unit shouldn’t be any different. Very very cool. I’m actually in the process of building out a BLAZE outdoor kitchen.
I agree. He turned me on to PK grills. I'm probably going to get one of the PK300 Franklin's for grilling and maybe a Blaze down the road for smoking..
I've had one now for three years, still looks new and is fun to use. The temperature is very consistent and works well. I just wish they made a larger size.
I had a 1969 PK, loved it and learned to cook on it. It had been my Grandfather’s, I gained possession of it circa 1997. Great and durable grill. However, it wasn’t indestructible, it fell off my pick-up during a move and cracked. It was a very sad day. I’m no fan of Komodo grills, but I have seen these Blaze aluminum versions for sell at a local retailer. They have intrigued me, simply because they are aluminum instead of ceramic.
I have been cooking on a blaze kamado for about a year and a half, probably 70 cooks 350lbs of charcoal. It is a great cooker. Quality throughout, especially the grates. No gaskets! No assembly required except the cart and handle. Easy to stabilize the temp and a full load of charcoal lasts longer than any cooks I have had( 15 hr brisket has been my longest). Easy to clean out not easy to keep outside sparkle...so I don't. I wish it was 22 inches instead of 20, I added a rack which gives me some additional area. Customer service was great. I would buy again. Gene
I own one as well and yeah I wish it was slightly bigger (not saying that it is small though). I emailed Blaze a while back and they said that they do not have any plans to produce a larger one (yet). What is the highest temperature that you have brought it up to so far?
haha. That's the truth. It's great to have options. When I started in this hobby, the only real options were big green egg or Primo. Now the consumer is in charge and it's driven the prices down alot for the consumer.
Works for just about any passion. If I had a dime for every dime I've spent on hunting and fishing accessories, I'd give them to my wife so she'd stop bugging me about dimes!! @@BabyBackManiac
If using an external thermometer (which for me is virtually every cook) how would you insert into the grill? Is there a probe port? One advantage to the soft gasket is that it seals around the probe wire without damaging it. This looks like it would crimp the wire and impede it closing properly as well.
Remember that Grilling is not about the fancy equipment. Its more about the taste and passion of cooking! A lot of BBQ stores are using just Charcoal and Grates but love by many. I suggest keep it simple and Tasty!
Great video Justin!!! The guys at Blaze are great folks and that Kamado is killer!!! I was sold on it 2 yrs ago!!! If I were to own another Kamado type cooker, this would be it! It's indestructible!!! Always great getting to hang out with Nick, the pyro guy in the group!!! LOL
@@BabyBackManiac tell Tony Soprano that, I think he flipped us off. I think you should pickup bbq freaks Shirley trailer he just put it up for sale. Blaze on
The only thing missing is a do Joe style accessories for pizza but even without that baking pizza on this kamado is a pleasure, heat reflection/repartition is almost perfect. For me one of the best bbq i had (and still have) perfect for extreme winter conditions we have here in Quebec.
I have total two TK vertical reverse flow KJ big Joe and Joe Jr two wsm 18 and 14 Yoder Ys 640 and PK 360 my fiancee asked why do you have eight grills and smokers I responded. That's simple sweetheart because I don't have nine yet
I use my BGE during the late fall/winter/early spring and my pellet grill the rest of the time...(FOR SMOKING) my egg is always my go to for grilling... How do these do in -20f. My BGE laughs at those temps. I wonder if that aluminum absorbs the cold more than my green ceramic baby?
I only have a Weber kettle a broilking keg and a handbuilt propane offset... and a UDS that’s mostly been sent out to pasture... how should I go about convincing my wife to let me get a big joe a Weber summit and at least 4/5 more bbqs? Enjoying your videos!
Wow. This looks like a worthy competitor to Komodo Kamado. Very cool designs to all the accessory parts. It's like a supercharged PK. And that warranty. The wife would pitch a fit to see another kamado on the deck...
Hmmm. That's a great question. I wish I knew the answer. That said, I never clean the daisy wheels on my other cookers so maybe it's just not a problem.
Very cool that you got some info on that cooker. I’ve always seen it and thought it looked cool but never really knew much about it. And holly grill grates Batman
Its true that cast aluminium isnt safe for cooking? I've read a review telling this type of material isnt safe for cooking and is banned in some places. I really want to buy it, but Im a little curious about this topic now.
Hopefully you can review and use one!! With your editing skills and great camera work makes it easier to make a decision to justify the price. I seen one in person they look great and the old saying you get what you pay for really shows. But not enough videos or reviews out there. Really interested how it compares to the Kamado Joe II or even the new 2019 Kamado Joe III
It's a little smaller, the grates are thicker, it's solid metal instead of dual walled air insulated. This has a built in rotisserie available. They are very different.
You’re trying to bankrupt me aren’t you Mr. Maniac? 😁 By the way the new Summit did what you said. Ran a little hot. Brisket Came out really good. All my neighbors ate well. Keep up the great work Jason. Sincerely Bob😎
honestly i can't afford either,im stuck with the old weber kettle granted i have a few.and a propane smoker.this just makes me jealous. but i love watching.
This cooker looks fantastic. My question is how long has this been on the market for? My reason for asking is, maybe there might be upgrades in the near future? Kinda like we say in the PC world, say no to rev0 type of thing.
Why not do the same in a reverse flow stick cooker if it's a better platform?. I'm guessing there is a law of diminishing returns in regards to size and efficiency vs cost..
Of course man, I never skip a video of yours! Great content and a lot of fun to watch! So no “thanks for watching” needed here but you’re welcome! Ha ha
Here is the stainless cooking plate/ heat deflector (sears steaks great): www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MUHCKQA/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Here is what I use as a water pan in my Blaze kamado (fits perfect and won't rust): www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0085IT1B8/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I see one major problem with the unit. Since it is SOLID cast aluminum, the exterior must get unbelievably hot during cooking. That could be very dangerous for kids, or even adults. That's advantage of the insulating advantage of ceramic, it doesn't heat up on the outside anywhere near as much
Yeah but ceramic gets about as hot as a Weber kettle when fully heat soaked. (I measured it with an IR gun) so I'm not sure if it matters. That said, It's an interesting thought and I'd love to know the answer too.
@@larsvegas1505 not really sure what you consider a " serious" review, but I have been cooking on a blaze kamado since October 2017 and have put more than 350 lbs of charcoal through it. Can stabilize it at 185-190 f and sear at 750 f. Holds temp great, my longest cook 15 hrs ( brisket) still had more than 1/4 of charcoal left. Quality build, grates are especially well made. Would like it to be 22 inches but it is better than 18. No gaskets, it is a kamado and cooks the same as ceramic kamado. Maybe more expensive but it will probably last more than my lifetime. I would buy again. I have cooked on many different smokers, all have their pluses and minuses, for a kamado I will keep my blaze. Gene
Very informative video, as per usual, you did a good interview asking all the right questions. Impressivee Grill and accessories. One of the few Kamado style grills that even sparked an interest in me. Do you even have any room in your backyard, to accommodate this grill?? We all know, it's probably in your future. 😎. Nicely Done. Thanks for sharing. 😎.
Nice review interview. I stumbled onto these almost 2 yrs ago and wondered whey I didn't see many in the youtube circles. I guess it was price tag, but it is made like a tank and will last for a lifetime. Something to consider. When your brother comes back to visit 25 yrs from now, you will grill him a steak on the same cooker. lol I really like it. I have an offset I'll swap and maybe throw in couple hundred boot.
@@progers5019 I'm going to Costco kamato Joe Road show Friday, to check out there new model. I don't use anything enough to acquire any more, not to mention leftovers take a time to use. Last week they had pork butts 99cents a pound this week pork picnic 99cents a pound, and ham shank 39cents a lb. I think I'm going to pick one of those up. Greg made a monster basket for me it should arrive today, I know I'll be able to do a large brisket without fuel concerns. I think I'm going to use wsm ring on kettle with the kettle zone system. I have all needed hardware to assemble the wsm. I'm not the handiest person so I'm gathering the courage to commence drilling. I told Greg he should call you we hadn't heard from you in a while. Always great to see your latest content.
Baby Back Maniac check out Bbq Freak Shirley Trl for sale. Someone tipped me off to the ceamic store I believe it in Austin they have some of the best prices. I see they have kj big joe 3 2098 tailgate delivery. Thats 300.00 cheaper Than you can get around here. I wish you would have done more with your KK they fascinate me. After looking at them I would think over build and hefty grate not as easy transition as with others. Some one is doing video on new 32 big bad and he shows the initial burn in to vent it and get tiles to set, interesting but unaware that that took place. That channel is Flemming he just started. Keep up the Good work the collaborations your an inspiration.
Just a curiosity. Does anyone know how hot these get on the outside? Seems like it would get pretty intense being a solid unit compared to some other styles of komados
Cool thanks for the answer! Was just a curiosity as a buddy of mine has a ceramic one that stays cool. I have a 26.75 webber that obviously does not lol
Steve, I've owned several ceramics and none of them stay cool on the outside. They just take longer to get heat soaked. But once they get there there, a big green egg will get very close to the temps of a Weber kettle (I measured with a IR therm)
I own a small and large Grilldome Kamado. Large got second hand it lives outside covered mostly. (Don't buy second hand because of the no warranty issue.) If you don't protect from weather ceramic grills don't do well with freeze thaw cycles. Or moisture absorption. after ten years the large is beat up , Outside the dome has its outer coating peeled off the lid and has multiple cracks throughout have replaced the inners twice expensive out of warranty.Small one i got a 2 years later New and always covered with there thick vinyl cover. Also starting to crack and have replaced inners once under warranty. So once my large falls apart This Aluminium Kamado is on my wishlist. with the rotisserie.!
@@BabyBackManiac They do have a nice metal disc plate that you can use as a deflector and as a searing/cooking plate. I own it and really like it. Before I bought it though, I just used cheapo pizza pans as my deflector (I used both ceramic and metal). They work fine as well, just not super durable.
Here is the stainless cooking plate/ heat deflector (sears steaks great): www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MUHCKQA/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Here is what I use as a water pan in my Blaze kamado (fits perfect and won't rust): www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0085IT1B8/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Just so you don't believe everything this guy says.... These style grills limit the air flow to control the temp (also helps to keep the meat from drying out), so using lighter fluid or charcoal briquets do impose a taste. Bought briquets by mistake one time and the food tasted terrible! This is as opposed to a gas grill with open air flow or a kettle grill where the briquets have burned down before use. The combustion process within an enclosed system actually produces moisture. Aluminum is much better conductor of heat than ceramic grills which are more insulated, and kids generally can react quick enough to not get burned on ceramic. If the seal is good you never need to add charcoal. Maybe this grill should add a felt gasket (which also would make the lid close quieter)? I light my ceramic grills with a 500,000 Btu "weed burner" in the middle of the winter here in Iowa. One time I forgot and left the vents wide open--the gauge indicated 700F and ice was still caked on the outside. Another time it got much hotter and "pegged" the temp gauge. Had to re-calibrate the gauge but the ceramic did not crack. The inner ceramic fire-ring should have a "slit" to eliminate temperature stress.
You have some great pointers and greatly appreciate it Justin. What is interesting with me is that I was about to buy a $4200 gas grill. There really was not much to say about this grill other than it had a lot of nice bells and whistles. In the end, I just was not satisfied with the purchase and bailed out. I then started to compare actual cooking areas between the more expensive grill and one about $1,000. This was where I started to think ... Hey ... why not buy TWO grills for $3,500???? When you think about value and the differences between charcoal, Kamado and gas grills, there are pros and cons with both. To bring both in together, I decided to buy an allluminum steel kamado $1800 and a $1200 grill. Between these two, I got more cooking area than spending a ton of money on a nice brand $4200 grill that offers me less cooking space and the combination of a smoker, slow cooker, high cooker, fast cooking workflow. It is so much easier to split responsibilities between two grills than one. The cooking space and the opposites of a Gas Grill and Kamado are evident. Why did I not think of this sooner? Well, when you are making a big investment, it is always good to document your information and critically think out if buying TWO is possible. I did not think that way intially but boy oh boy, I am sure happy I did. Paying for a Pre-Fab BBQ Island is another topic too and I need to build up my project to TH-cam for everyone. Thank you for sharing.
You are both right. It's an issue with insulation because highly insulative cookers need so little air flow that if the fire is too spread out in can smolder or go out completely really easily. To answer you question. I don't think that would be an issue because aluminum is not very insulating at all. In fact, I'd be more concerned in the opposite direction where it might not be very fuel efficient...or at least as fuel efficient as a ceramic. But all those things are on a pendulum. There are pros and minuses to all of it.
Good question. I'm not sure but those things are so standardized these days that it wouldn't be hard to get a battery powered if it was corded or vice versa.
I would love to see a head to head test on a real cook using identical quantities of fuel to see which one is more efficient. I think aluminum would very durable, but not very efficient for a Kamado style cooker. Wouldn’t it be a conductor of heat and not a good insulator of heat. Example: when I use a ceramic dutch oven it holds the heat for a long time where as aluminum ones heat up quickly, but do not hold the heat as well. (If the heat is generated on the outside it probably would not matter, but I think it matters a lot when the heat is generated on the inside.) All that being said, I love the look and design of the Blaze and would love for you to perform a real test at home like your other videos.
I’m sure it be less efficient. I’m not sure if it matters or not. Interesting thoughts. I’d love to perform a real Test to but unfortunately I don’t have one. Thank you for watching
This thing looks pretty awesome. I wonder how un/forgiving that finish is on grease & stains though. I’m pretty ocd & I imagine bge / kjs are better at hiding the imperfections most home grillers have. Justin, I know you’d be able to keep yours looking immaculate ✌🏼
@@BabyBackManiac I'd post a pic of my setup on here if I knew how. There isn't a ton of info out there on the BK. Believe me, I've looked. Lance and I chatted a few times and he's had his longer than me. I got mine in July of 18.
A year later and i still want one. Eventually i will buy it, my grand kids better love it a century from now. Although i'm still collecting the funds to get one.
Love these walk-through videos. Sounds like quite an endorsement for the “Portable Kitchen” grill, which is back in production. Have you seen Malcom Reed’s vids on them? Scott
Baby Back Maniac Well heck, give them a call and tell them to hook a neighbor up! Seriously, knowing how familiar you are with Webber grills and kamado grills, your take on them would be super-valuable. BTW, how’s your dad doing? Scott
Oh Justin, I am so sorry! I don’t know how I missed that except perhaps because that was during the same period of time that we were losing my mother-in-law. I’m so sorry for your and your family’s loss. Scott
Great video and all Justin, but I couldn't help noticing that *healthy* red umbrella in the background. A red umbrella without broken ribs and frequent flyer miles! 😄
It took me a long time, at least a year, to make my decision to purchase the Blaze Kamado. Thanks to Lance (he's chimmed in on here before) and a handful of others, it became a no-brainer. My initial hesitation was the size. Could I smoke a packer brisket? Yes, with a little room to spare.
As durable as it is, i dont think i’d want an aluminum komodo because aluminum conducts heat really well so it seems like it would be very wind/exterior temp sensitive. I have this issue with a weber q 2200. It doesn’t like cold exterior temps or windy days
Great question. This was an off the cuff interview and I honestly didn't think to ask him. I know they make a deflector plate. I do not know what the answer is about 2 zone. Probably the easiest thing would be to pile your coals on one side of that middle great and leave the other side clear.
It's hard to say because I don't have one and alot of times (like cars, cameras, and cell phones) there are things you can't know until you actually use them. With that said, if it cooks as good as any other ceramic cooker without any drawbacks, 1800 is a bargain. You can easily pay twice that for a pellet grill with a 5-10 year life span. This should last forever. That said, I don't know what the drawbacks are of it in use but I'm not put off by the price because you should be able to use it forever.
Hard to answer that without cooking on it. If there aren't any other drawbacks from a typical ceramic cooker, 1800 bucks is a bargain because it will last forever. To put that in perspective, you could easily spend that much money on a pellet grill that might not make it 5 years. Again, I don't know if I can answer that question because like anything the specs don't away tell the whole story but when I think big picture, I'm not put off by the price at all if it's the real deal.
Great video! Nice looking grill, and looks to be a tank, but looks like an 18 inch grate. Gee, what do you know, grate and adjustable charcoal grates just like the Summit, and a pan like the Drip n Griddle pan. Can’t beat the ash clean out on the Summit. Keep these great videos coming!
Yeah, like they said that kind of thing is easy to DYI. All you need is an 18 inch Weber grate and a few coke cans...or like Danny said buy something off the shelf.
Great interview Justin, I hope some of the things we discussed over email came to mind when you saw the kamado in person.
Also, to anyone in the comments section that has any questions for about this thing, ask away. I have owned one since they came out.
In short, if they made a larger one, I'd buy a 2nd one.
Since Lance has owned one for a while and is willing to answer questions that I can't answer, I thought I'd take him up on the offer and pin his comment. (Thank you, Lance.)
Fire away, folks.
How does the unit get to temp, hold temp and store temp ( how long to cool) being that's it's not ceramic?
@@grkspartan009 The Kamado gets to temp, let's say 250F in about 10-15 mins and can hold that temp (with a full load of charcoal) for ~25+ hours (without refill). If you are cooking at high temps, say like for pizzas, obviously, it will burn more quickly since the difference in surface temperature and the surrounding temperature is greater. Once you figure out the intake/exhaust settings, you can dial in the internal temp really well. I have had zero problems except for really windy days. Temp recovery (after lifting the lid to baste or check your food) is pretty quick. Cooldown doesn't take that long at all once the fire is out. I am sure the Blaze aluminum kamado burns more fuel than a ceramic kamado, but I have never tested the difference. Personally, lump charcoal isn't that expensive so it's not a concern to me.
Lance, thank you, for taking the time to answer our questions. Can you Sear using the charcoal basket?
@@lennyg7771 No problem, I am an engineering student (in college in my 30s) so I never sleep.
You can sear with the charcoal basket. You mean the one that comes with the rotisserie right? I have used it for (2) zone cooking also.
This guy is somewhere between a used car salesman and a southern Baptist preacher. Love the looks of that cooker, though.
lol. He's just very good at what he does. Nothing wrong with being prepared.
That’s pretty funny actually but I’m in high end enterprise tech sales and I can assure you, this guy came off as being an industry authority.
No doubt, he knows his stuff and has done a lot of R&D to create a seemingly great product. Anyone getting into the kamado production game has to bring something great to the table because there are already such good models already available.
I agree.
This guy knows his product and is well prepared for questions as any salesperson worth his salt would be. Aside from the product being amazing with a lifetime warranty (if that didn't make you want to own it just knowing that) his demonstration of knowledge pretty much would seal the deal for serious buyers. His presentation was on point.
As a gentle reminder to all persons interested in buying high end cooking equipment it's always easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission
lol
Spoken like a person with experience. Great advice. Although, I might add something along the lines of "I just wanted to make great memories with friends and family and this will help, honey".
hahaha! How did you know???
I've had my Blaze Komado for two years now, and I love it! Excellent quality, heavy duty, nothing breaks, perfect heat control properties; LOVE IT!
Thanks for making a great product, that should last my lifetime!
Well as long as they sell only a 20” unit between $1799 for base model and $2400 with support cart I’ll happily stick with my 23” Big Joe!!!
Tony Rizzo Me too
Nick is such a cool guy! That Kamado is special. Such incredible quality on that thing! It should be orbiting the earth along side that Tesla!
Orbiting, huh? Gonna need a LOT more tannerite.
Oh man, don't tempt him! Cheers guys!
hahaha.
Buy yourself one man and do some Cajun-themed burger on it so I can drunkenly try to copy it and then try to convince my wife that I came up with it myself. haha
I live in Alaska, have had this grill for about 2 months. Super efficient, holds heat and temp for hours, based on how much you load it with. I've only used splits, lump and charcoal, (no fluids). It does not seem to get any hotter on the outside than a ceramic model, you can touch it at 500 and if you move your hand, you won't get burned. snow does not melt off of the stand or the deck around it. Any larger and it wouldn't really be portable, size is limited but it fits a packer Brisket or large Turkey
I have to say that was one of the best interview I've seen on the tube, about bbq grills. Thank for the video and your time. cast aluminum is the way to go.
Thanks man. That means a lot to me. Appreciate you watching.
First off, that guy is a top class salesmen. Well done! Secondly, that Blaze Kamado is gorgeous. The PK Grills last FOREVER. This Blaze unit shouldn’t be any different. Very very cool. I’m actually in the process of building out a BLAZE outdoor kitchen.
That's awesome, Jonathan. I've always wanted an outdoor kitchen. Congratulations! I hope you love what you end up with.
I agree. He turned me on to PK grills. I'm probably going to get one of the PK300 Franklin's for grilling and maybe a Blaze down the road for smoking..
I've had one now for three years, still looks new and is fun to use. The temperature is very consistent and works well. I just wish they made a larger size.
I had a 1969 PK, loved it and learned to cook on it. It had been my Grandfather’s, I gained possession of it circa 1997. Great and durable grill. However, it wasn’t indestructible, it fell off my pick-up during a move and cracked. It was a very sad day.
I’m no fan of Komodo grills, but I have seen these Blaze aluminum versions for sell at a local retailer. They have intrigued me, simply because they are aluminum instead of ceramic.
My heart hurts hearing that story Lew.
I have been cooking on a blaze kamado for about a year and a half, probably 70 cooks 350lbs of charcoal. It is a great cooker. Quality throughout, especially the grates.
No gaskets! No assembly required except the cart and handle. Easy to stabilize the temp and a full load of charcoal lasts longer than any cooks I have had( 15 hr brisket has been my longest). Easy to clean out not easy to keep outside sparkle...so I don't. I wish it was 22 inches instead of 20, I added a rack which gives me some additional area. Customer service was great. I would buy again. Gene
I own one as well and yeah I wish it was slightly bigger (not saying that it is small though). I emailed Blaze a while back and they said that they do not have any plans to produce a larger one (yet).
What is the highest temperature that you have brought it up to so far?
@@lancec7027 I think 750-780 f is the highest temp I noticed. Gene
Thanks Gene. I appreciate you input.
Son to father: "Dad. can grilling make you a millionaire?"
Father to son, "Yes. If you're a billionaire."
Great video Justin!
haha. That's the truth. It's great to have options. When I started in this hobby, the only real options were big green egg or Primo. Now the consumer is in charge and it's driven the prices down alot for the consumer.
Works for just about any passion. If I had a dime for every dime I've spent on hunting and fishing accessories, I'd give them to my wife so she'd stop bugging me about dimes!! @@BabyBackManiac
lol. I'm may still that one.
If using an external thermometer (which for me is virtually every cook) how would you insert into the grill? Is there a probe port?
One advantage to the soft gasket is that it seals around the probe wire without damaging it. This looks like it would crimp the wire and impede it closing properly as well.
There is a port
Remember that Grilling is not about the fancy equipment. Its more about the taste and passion of cooking! A lot of BBQ stores are using just Charcoal and Grates but love by many. I suggest keep it simple and Tasty!
Can you use bbg guru style temperature controllers
Great video Justin!!! The guys at Blaze are great folks and that Kamado is killer!!! I was sold on it 2 yrs ago!!! If I were to own another Kamado type cooker, this would be it! It's indestructible!!! Always great getting to hang out with Nick, the pyro guy in the group!!! LOL
We like Troy's opinion 👍🏼
If it's good enough for T-roy...
@@BabyBackManiac tell Tony Soprano that, I think he flipped us off. I think you should pickup bbq freaks Shirley trailer he just put it up for sale. Blaze on
@@johnknapp6328 Thanks. Yeah, every video I put up gets trolled. Believe it or not, that was pretty mild. It's just part of youtube unfortunately.
That charcoal holder is badass. Overall this beast looks like it will last a lifetime. Pretty dang cool!
Yeah, it looks like It's the real deal.
The only thing missing is a do Joe style accessories for pizza but even without that baking pizza on this kamado is a pleasure, heat reflection/repartition is almost perfect.
For me one of the best bbq i had (and still have) perfect for extreme winter conditions we have here in Quebec.
Thanks Bernie.
I want One!!!!! Awesome job Justin!!!
Thanks Tom. You'd modify it
I have bge and two KJ I feel the need to add to that collection now
I know that feeling well. lol
I have total two TK vertical reverse flow KJ big Joe and Joe Jr two wsm 18 and 14 Yoder Ys 640 and PK 360 my fiancee asked why do you have eight grills and smokers I responded. That's simple sweetheart because I don't have nine yet
I use my BGE during the late fall/winter/early spring and my pellet grill the rest of the time...(FOR SMOKING) my egg is always my go to for grilling... How do these do in -20f. My BGE laughs at those temps. I wonder if that aluminum absorbs the cold more than my green ceramic baby?
I only have a Weber kettle a broilking keg and a handbuilt propane offset... and a UDS that’s mostly been sent out to pasture... how should I go about convincing my wife to let me get a big joe a Weber summit and at least 4/5 more bbqs? Enjoying your videos!
lol. Thanks man. Have a great weekend
Wow. This looks like a worthy competitor to Komodo Kamado. Very cool designs to all the accessory parts. It's like a supercharged PK. And that warranty. The wife would pitch a fit to see another kamado on the deck...
I remember how totally badass that thing looked. It looked like it was constructed to go through a war. Crazy heavy duty!
Totally agree man. It would last forever.
How do you remove and clean the daisy wheel? If it is all gunked up I don't see how it comes off and place it inside to clean it.
Hmmm. That's a great question. I wish I knew the answer. That said, I never clean the daisy wheels on my other cookers so maybe it's just not a problem.
@@BabyBackManiac Hmmmm guess you don't cook enough then. ;-)
Is this available in Australia?
Thank you for the great video. I was sold by all the useful info and great presentation. I love my new Blaze Kamado.
Seems like a really nice cooker
Very cool that you got some info on that cooker. I’ve always seen it and thought it looked cool but never really knew much about it. And holly grill grates Batman
They are ginormously thick. It's crazy
How hot does the outside get? Is it warm to the touch?
Will the handle burn your hand or do you need gloves to open it?
This video sold me on the blaze Kamado. It's a killer Kamado grill and I'm pretty sure there's no way I'll never need to buy anything else
Its true that cast aluminium isnt safe for cooking?
I've read a review telling this type of material isnt safe for cooking and is banned in some places. I really want to buy it, but Im a little curious about this topic now.
Hopefully you can review and use one!! With your editing skills and great camera work makes it easier to make a decision to justify the price. I seen one in person they look great and the old saying you get what you pay for really shows. But not enough videos or reviews out there. Really interested how it compares to the Kamado Joe II or even the new 2019 Kamado Joe III
Q Abraham. I really appreciate the compliment
Not available in Australia :( .
Thats too bad
Justin,
Thanks for the video. This comparison is to a ceramic kamado but how does it compare to the Weber Charcoal Summit?
It's a little smaller, the grates are thicker, it's solid metal instead of dual walled air insulated. This has a built in rotisserie available. They are very different.
You’re trying to bankrupt me aren’t you Mr. Maniac? 😁 By the way the new Summit did what you said. Ran a little hot. Brisket
Came out really good. All my neighbors ate well. Keep up the great work Jason. Sincerely Bob😎
Awesome KenBob. Glad it turned out for you!
Thats a really nice cooker. Thanks for showing it Justin!
My pleasure bro. Have a great weekend
Will they do this in an XL format like the big Joe etc? I work on the premise of better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
so will u get one? Can we see some reviews of actual cooking? :)
Isn't it going to radiate lots of heat with Aluminum being a great thermal conductor?
is there a booth from caliber pro there also i would like to know the difference between this and a steel insulated kamado
Maybe. I didn't see it but there was a lot going on. They look very similar to me
Reasonably priced for that small unit, but I need the xl or xxl size. I'll go check their web page. I love my BKJ tho! 😊 20" is as big as it gets? 😞
I think so, unfortunately.
Preach!!! That’s one fine cooker! Great video Justin. Do they make a bigger model?
I don't think so, Eric. At least not at the moment as they didnt have any other sizes there.
What's that swivel chair called behind him? I want one lol
Oh no. This is 1700.00. do we get a Weber Summit or this amazing beauty?
It’s good to have options. Good time to be a customer
I don't know brother. I think I need to test it out in my backyard to really get a feel for it. ;)
lol Yeah, I agree. Get one so I can play with it.
I have never heard of or seen one of those. That would definitely be the BLING of your patio!!
Yeah it's purdy
The guy @the 2:35 mark checking out the girl is the best part of the video aside from the grill. 🤣🤣🤣
That is THE best bbq I have EVER seen. I want one and I want one NOW!
Yeah, it's so cool.
honestly i can't afford either,im stuck with the old weber kettle granted i have a few.and a propane smoker.this just makes me jealous. but i love watching.
That's all you know really need John.
Wow! Looks like an awesome cooker!
Would love to see a cook video and your views of that. Hopefully you get a test unit
Thanks Jay
So did you talk the Finance Dept Manager/Wife into purchasing one yet?
lol. not yet.
This cooker looks fantastic. My question is how long has this been on the market for? My reason for asking is, maybe there might be upgrades in the near future? Kinda like we say in the PC world, say no to rev0 type of thing.
I originally heard about it in 2016 But after researching it while I think it may be based on a modeled it's been around a lot longer
I want that half-circle 180* stainless tray as an option again! Please bring it back Blaze! @BlazeOutdoorProducts
Why not do the same in a reverse flow stick cooker if it's a better platform?. I'm guessing there is a law of diminishing returns in regards to size and efficiency vs cost..
These are cast in molds. Not sure how you'd do that with a stickburner.
@@BabyBackManiac Not too hard to cast in molds many times larger than any stick burner.. Just posing the question
I'm a Primo Brand guy myself, but this does look awesome.
I like my Primo cooker alot too.
That is an awesome cooker! Wow!
Yeah crazy huh? Thanks for watching
Of course man, I never skip a video of yours! Great content and a lot of fun to watch! So no “thanks for watching” needed here but you’re welcome! Ha ha
Do these come with a heat deflector? I did not see one in the video
You can buy the 15inch stainless disc (see the website) and use it as a heat deflector/griddle. I own one and it works great.
Thanks Lance. I didn't know the answer to that question.
Here is the stainless cooking plate/ heat deflector (sears steaks great):
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MUHCKQA/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Here is what I use as a water pan in my Blaze kamado (fits perfect and won't rust):
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0085IT1B8/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Thanks again!
That is a badass cooker, 175 lbs!? Damn! Definitely a pretty cool alternative to the ceramic ones
I totally agree.
I see one major problem with the unit. Since it is SOLID cast aluminum, the exterior must get unbelievably hot during cooking. That could be very dangerous for kids, or even adults. That's advantage of the insulating advantage of ceramic, it doesn't heat up on the outside anywhere near as much
that is an assumption, it would be nice to know the reality.
Yeah but ceramic gets about as hot as a Weber kettle when fully heat soaked. (I measured it with an IR gun) so I'm not sure if it matters. That said, It's an interesting thought and I'd love to know the answer too.
Taken mine to 750 f many times...not any more ( and maybe less) dangerous than a Weber kettle at 500 f. Remember the shell is very thick.
@@larsvegas1505 not really sure what you consider a " serious" review, but I have been cooking on a blaze kamado since October 2017 and have put more than 350 lbs of charcoal through it. Can stabilize it at 185-190 f and sear at 750 f. Holds temp great, my longest cook 15 hrs ( brisket) still had more than 1/4 of charcoal left.
Quality build, grates are especially well made. Would like it to be 22 inches but it is better than 18.
No gaskets, it is a kamado and cooks the same as ceramic kamado. Maybe more expensive but it will probably last more than my lifetime. I would buy again.
I have cooked on many different smokers, all have their pluses and minuses, for a kamado I will keep my blaze. Gene
Got to teach your kids to not be walking around the cooker with their face buried in their phone.
Did I miss it, or was there no heat deflector?
There's a stainless steel one available for $100, or just use a pizza stone like I do
What Tom said. It's on their website.
Now that's passion, I think he could sell just about anything.
Me too. He's very persuasive and all the people that I know who know him say he's a good guy.
Very informative video, as per usual, you did a good interview asking all the right questions. Impressivee Grill and accessories. One of the few Kamado style grills that even sparked an interest in me. Do you even have any room in your backyard, to accommodate this grill?? We all know, it's probably in your future. 😎. Nicely Done. Thanks for sharing. 😎.
Nice review interview. I stumbled onto these almost 2 yrs ago and wondered whey I didn't see many in the youtube circles. I guess it was price tag, but it is made like a tank and will last for a lifetime. Something to consider. When your brother comes back to visit 25 yrs from now, you will grill him a steak on the same cooker. lol I really like it. I have an offset I'll swap and maybe throw in couple hundred boot.
Come on we all know we're the heart is WsM-PiF 👌
@@johnknapp6328 yep yep. However a Pitmaster has to have a little variety.
@@progers5019 I'm going to Costco kamato Joe Road show Friday, to check out there new model.
I don't use anything enough to acquire any more, not to mention leftovers take a time to use. Last week they had pork butts 99cents a pound this week pork picnic 99cents a pound, and ham shank 39cents a lb. I think I'm going to pick one of those up. Greg made a monster basket for me it should arrive today, I know I'll be able to do a large brisket without fuel concerns. I think I'm going to use wsm ring on kettle with the kettle zone system. I have all needed hardware to assemble the wsm. I'm not the handiest person so I'm gathering the courage to commence drilling. I told Greg he should call you we hadn't heard from you in a while. Always great to see your latest content.
You know the saying...Variety is the spice of BBQ (...along with the ACTUAL spices used it bbq. OK so it's not as pithy as the original. lol)
Baby Back Maniac check out Bbq Freak Shirley Trl for sale. Someone tipped me off to the ceamic store I believe it in Austin they have some of the best prices. I see they have kj big joe 3 2098 tailgate delivery. Thats 300.00 cheaper
Than you can get around here. I wish you would have done more with your KK they fascinate me. After looking at them I would think over build and hefty grate not as easy transition as with others. Some one is doing video on new 32 big bad and he shows the initial burn in to vent it and get tiles to set, interesting but unaware that that took place. That channel is Flemming he just started. Keep up the Good work the collaborations your an inspiration.
Just a curiosity. Does anyone know how hot these get on the outside? Seems like it would get pretty intense being a solid unit compared to some other styles of komados
Is it guy name Lance on here that has one. Post this question to the pinned comment and he'll see it and give you an answer.
I have one. It does get hot. Mine is situated into a brick insert so it's really difficult to touch it unless you are just trying to
Cool thanks for the answer! Was just a curiosity as a buddy of mine has a ceramic one that stays cool. I have a 26.75 webber that obviously does not lol
Steve,
I've owned several ceramics and none of them stay cool on the outside. They just take longer to get heat soaked. But once they get there there, a big green egg will get very close to the temps of a Weber kettle (I measured with a IR therm)
Interesting. This one was a vision grill purchased from Costco. It gets pretty warm but it does not seem to get super hot.
I own a small and large Grilldome Kamado. Large got second hand it lives outside covered mostly. (Don't buy second hand because of the no warranty issue.) If you don't protect from weather ceramic grills don't do well with freeze thaw cycles. Or moisture absorption. after ten years the large is beat up , Outside the dome has its outer coating peeled off the lid and has multiple cracks throughout have replaced the inners twice expensive out of warranty.Small one i got a 2 years later New and always covered with there thick vinyl cover. Also starting to crack and have replaced inners once under warranty. So once my large falls apart This Aluminium Kamado is on my wishlist. with the rotisserie.!
Do they have heat deflector plates?
Great question. Another commenter said they sell a metal disc you can buy and use a deflector. If they had it there that day, I didn't see it.
@@BabyBackManiac They do have a nice metal disc plate that you can use as a deflector and as a searing/cooking plate. I own it and really like it. Before I bought it though, I just used cheapo pizza pans as my deflector (I used both ceramic and metal). They work fine as well, just not super durable.
Here is the stainless cooking plate/ heat deflector (sears steaks great):
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MUHCKQA/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Here is what I use as a water pan in my Blaze kamado (fits perfect and won't rust):
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0085IT1B8/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Thanks Danny!
Just so you don't believe everything this guy says.... These style grills limit the air flow to control the temp (also helps to keep the meat from drying out), so using lighter fluid or charcoal briquets do impose a taste. Bought briquets by mistake one time and the food tasted terrible! This is as opposed to a gas grill with open air flow or a kettle grill where the briquets have burned down before use. The combustion process within an enclosed system actually produces moisture.
Aluminum is much better conductor of heat than ceramic grills which are more insulated, and kids generally can react quick enough to not get burned on ceramic.
If the seal is good you never need to add charcoal. Maybe this grill should add a felt gasket (which also would make the lid close quieter)?
I light my ceramic grills with a 500,000 Btu "weed burner" in the middle of the winter here in Iowa. One time I forgot and left the vents wide open--the gauge indicated 700F and ice was still caked on the outside. Another time it got much hotter and "pegged" the temp gauge. Had to re-calibrate the gauge but the ceramic did not crack. The inner ceramic fire-ring should have a "slit" to eliminate temperature stress.
Nice video! Very cool!
Thanks for watching man
You have some great pointers and greatly appreciate it Justin. What is interesting with me is that I was about to buy a $4200 gas grill. There really was not much to say about this grill other than it had a lot of nice bells and whistles. In the end, I just was not satisfied with the purchase and bailed out. I then started to compare actual cooking areas between the more expensive grill and one about $1,000. This was where I started to think ... Hey ... why not buy TWO grills for $3,500???? When you think about value and the differences between charcoal, Kamado and gas grills, there are pros and cons with both. To bring both in together, I decided to buy an allluminum steel kamado $1800 and a $1200 grill. Between these two, I got more cooking area than spending a ton of money on a nice brand $4200 grill that offers me less cooking space and the combination of a smoker, slow cooker, high cooker, fast cooking workflow. It is so much easier to split responsibilities between two grills than one.
The cooking space and the opposites of a Gas Grill and Kamado are evident. Why did I not think of this sooner? Well, when you are making a big investment, it is always good to document your information and critically think out if buying TWO is possible. I did not think that way intially but boy oh boy, I am sure happy I did. Paying for a Pre-Fab BBQ Island is another topic too and I need to build up my project to TH-cam for everyone.
Thank you for sharing.
No problem. Enjoy your new toys
That is one sexy grill! One if these days I'll have to choose between the Blaze and the Summit Charcoal.
Good luck with that.
I wonder if it will have the problem of being too insulated and making the coals smolder or go out
That isn't an issue with insulation. That's an air flow issue.
You are both right. It's an issue with insulation because highly insulative cookers need so little air flow that if the fire is too spread out in can smolder or go out completely really easily.
To answer you question. I don't think that would be an issue because aluminum is not very insulating at all. In fact, I'd be more concerned in the opposite direction where it might not be very fuel efficient...or at least as fuel efficient as a ceramic. But all those things are on a pendulum. There are pros and minuses to all of it.
I wish this was a bit bigger and I would consider it for sure. Great video keep em coming!
Me too. That said it's bigger than a normal large-size kamado. 20 inches.
Very informative. Thanks Justin. Cheers from the Jersey Shore.
Thanks Chris. Have a great weekend man
How is the rotisserie powered?
Good question. I'm not sure but those things are so standardized these days that it wouldn't be hard to get a battery powered if it was corded or vice versa.
I would love to see a head to head test on a real cook using identical quantities of fuel to see which one is more efficient. I think aluminum would very durable, but not very efficient for a Kamado style cooker. Wouldn’t it be a conductor of heat and not a good insulator of heat. Example: when I use a ceramic dutch oven it holds the heat for a long time where as aluminum ones heat up quickly, but do not hold the heat as well. (If the heat is generated on the outside it probably would not matter, but I think it matters a lot when the heat is generated on the inside.)
All that being said, I love the look and design of the Blaze and would love for you to perform a real test at home like your other videos.
I’m sure it be less efficient. I’m not sure if it matters or not. Interesting thoughts.
I’d love to perform a real Test to but unfortunately I don’t have one. Thank you for watching
This thing looks pretty awesome. I wonder how un/forgiving that finish is on grease & stains though. I’m pretty ocd & I imagine bge / kjs are better at hiding the imperfections most home grillers have. Justin, I know you’d be able to keep yours looking immaculate ✌🏼
That is a question I have is well Michael
I have a Blaze Kamado. Clean up is easy!
How do you lean the outside and keep in shiny?
@@BabyBackManiac I use an old towel, some Dawn and water mixed. Easy as can be. I also keep it covered when not in use.
@@BabyBackManiac I'd post a pic of my setup on here if I knew how. There isn't a ton of info out there on the BK. Believe me, I've looked. Lance and I chatted a few times and he's had his longer than me. I got mine in July of 18.
A year later and i still want one. Eventually i will buy it, my grand kids better love it a century from now. Although i'm still collecting the funds to get one.
Love these walk-through videos. Sounds like quite an endorsement for the “Portable Kitchen” grill, which is back in production. Have you seen Malcom Reed’s vids on them? Scott
I haven't seen Malcolm's videos on them, but Harry Soo is also quite a fan.
Yeah, I haven't seen them either. They are from my home town so it's nice seeing them do well.
Baby Back Maniac Well heck, give them a call and tell them to hook a neighbor up! Seriously, knowing how familiar you are with Webber grills and kamado grills, your take on them would be super-valuable. BTW, how’s your dad doing? Scott
Thank you for asking but he He passed away in October.
Oh Justin, I am so sorry! I don’t know how I missed that except perhaps because that was during the same period of time that we were losing my mother-in-law. I’m so sorry for your and your family’s loss. Scott
That looks cool!
I think so too
Damn I wish I had bought this before my neighbor decided to shoot at my ceramic Kamado /says no one ever
I'm glad these guys solved the solution.
Great video and all Justin, but I couldn't help noticing that *healthy* red umbrella in the background. A red umbrella without broken ribs and frequent flyer miles! 😄
Or snow! lol
Nick is a "blast!" It looks like a great cooker!
LOL. I see what you did there
Have one and love it!
Thanks for the feedback, Justin
It took me a long time, at least a year, to make my decision to purchase the Blaze Kamado. Thanks to Lance (he's chimmed in on here before) and a handful of others, it became a no-brainer. My initial hesitation was the size. Could I smoke a packer brisket? Yes, with a little room to spare.
Yeah, it's a good size. Would be nice if it was bigger but as long as you can get brisket and spare ribs in it, it's good enough.
As durable as it is, i dont think i’d want an aluminum komodo because aluminum conducts heat really well so it seems like it would be very wind/exterior temp sensitive. I have this issue with a weber q 2200. It doesn’t like cold exterior temps or windy days
So nothing about indirect or 2 zone cooking?
Great question. This was an off the cuff interview and I honestly didn't think to ask him. I know they make a deflector plate. I do not know what the answer is about 2 zone. Probably the easiest thing would be to pile your coals on one side of that middle great and leave the other side clear.
You should do a video of this Blaze Kamado vs the Weber Summit.
Yeah I would but I don't have one. LOL thanks for watching
Baby Back Maniac well let me ask you this. Does this kamado warrant $1800.00?
It's hard to say because I don't have one and alot of times (like cars, cameras, and cell phones) there are things you can't know until you actually use them.
With that said, if it cooks as good as any other ceramic cooker without any drawbacks, 1800 is a bargain. You can easily pay twice that for a pellet grill with a 5-10 year life span. This should last forever.
That said, I don't know what the drawbacks are of it in use but I'm not put off by the price because you should be able to use it forever.
Hard to answer that without cooking on it. If there aren't any other drawbacks from a typical ceramic cooker, 1800 bucks is a bargain because it will last forever. To put that in perspective, you could easily spend that much money on a pellet grill that might not make it 5 years.
Again, I don't know if I can answer that question because like anything the specs don't away tell the whole story but when I think big picture, I'm not put off by the price at all if it's the real deal.
Great video! Nice looking grill, and looks to be a tank, but looks like an 18 inch grate. Gee, what do you know, grate and adjustable charcoal grates just like the Summit, and a pan like the Drip n Griddle pan. Can’t beat the ash clean out on the Summit. Keep these great videos coming!
Lol. While I agree about the ash clean out on the summit, I actually think this Blaze kamado predates the Summit and the drip n Griddle pan.
Justin, thank you for the clarification. BTW, I sure enjoyed the explosions and the busted ceramic kamado!!
Me too! lol
Great interview Just.
Thank you!
Hi what's up? Hope all is well. Thank you for sharing. Really cool.
The Blaze Kamado is a great looking grill the only it needs is a extension grate that give three levels of cooking, Thanks for the video Justin!
I bought a cheapo extension grate from Amazon for like $20 for the few times I need extra space.
@@danbevriley Same here...
Yeah, like they said that kind of thing is easy to DYI. All you need is an 18 inch Weber grate and a few coke cans...or like Danny said buy something off the shelf.
Great info... I have been looking at these for awhile now. You made my mind up. Thanks
Glad I could help. Thank you for watching.
That’s a good setup. This guy could sell broke down cars. I’m sold.
He's knowledgeable and talented
Definitely a TOP NOTCH grill!
Thank you John. I appreciate you watching. Have a great weekend
I would buy one of these but, I like to cook more than two racks of ribs they are just too small.
That is one sturdy cooker!
Where are these Made ? I hope the USA.
I don't know where but I doubt they are made here.
@@BabyBackManiac Thank you. Went to their website but it had no info as to where they are made.
I found something online that said China.
@@BabyBackManiac That was nice of you to check it out. Thank you. Keep up the great work, I enjoy your videos!
Looks pretty cool, but I don’t think cooking in aluminum is the healthiest choice
I was expecting to hear 3-4k. 2k aint bad for that.